Evaluation of antiulcer activity of the main phenolic acids found in Brazilian Green Propolis.
OBJECTIVE
In a previous study, our group described the gastric protective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian green propolis. The main compounds found in Brazilian green propolis include phenolic acids, such as: caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the antiulcerogenic property of the main phenolic acids found in Brazilian Green Propolis.


METHODS
The anti-ulcer assays were performed using the following protocols: nonsteroidal-antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced ulcer, ethanol-induced ulcer, and stress-induced ulcer. The effects of the phenolic acids on gastric content volume, pH and total acidity, using the pylorus ligated model, were also evaluated.


RESULTS
It was observed that treatment using doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg of caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids and positive controls (omeprazol or cimetidine) significantly diminished the lesion index, the total area of the lesion and the percentage of lesion in comparison with the negative control groups. In addition, the percentage of ulcer inhibition was significantly higher in the groups treated with the different phenolic acids, cimetidine or omeprazol, in all the protocols used, compared with the negative control groups. In the model to determine gastric secretion, using ligated pylorus, treatment with phenolic acids and cimetidine reduced the volume of gastric juice and total acidity and significantly increased the gastric pH (p<0.05), compared with the control group, with the exception of the group treated with 50mg/kg of p-coumaric acid, in which no significant difference was observed, compared with the control. In relation to the acute toxicity, none sign of toxicity was observed when phenolic acids, used in this study, were administered for rats in dose of 2,000 mg/kg.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the results of this study show that caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids display antiulcer activity.
Barros
Muriel Primon de
MP
Núcleo de Ciência e Tecnologia, Area de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Campus de Videira, Videira - SC, 89560-000, SC, Brazil.
Lemos
Marivane
M
Maistro
Edson Luis
EL
Leite
Mateus Freire
MF
Sousa
João Paulo Barreto
JP
Bastos
Jairo Kennup
JK
Andrade
Sérgio Faloni de
SF
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001938:Brazil; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011422:Propionates; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D002934:Cinnamates; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D011422:Propionates; C029010:cinnamic acid; D000431:Ethanol; D011429:Propolis; C004999:ferulic acid; C017616:phenolic acid; C495469:p-coumaric acid; C040048:caffeic acid